Crowds flock to Turner Prize exhibition

Crowds flock to Turner Prize exhibition NEWS

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Crowds are flocking in their droves to this year's Turner Prize exhibition at Gateshead's Baltic Art Gallery.

Gateshead's 'Baltic Art Gallery' is currently home to exhibits from this year's 'Turner Prize' nominees.

Almost 25,000 art lovers have visited the gallery over the 5 days of exhibition with queues stretching out along the quayside, come rain, wind or shine. This year's exhibit is the first time that the nominee's work has been housed outside the Tate Gallery. The exhibition in Gateshead has the added attraction of being free whereas the usual Tate habit is to charge for entry. The exhibition was once held in Liverpool at the Tate on Albert Dock but the Baltic Gallery sees the first housing outside of the 'Tate' family of galleries.

In an interview with the BBC this week, the 'Baltic's' deputy director Claire Byers said it had been 'an extraordinary five days'.

'We have been thrilled by the public response and despite the visitors having to queue, the majority are very upbeat and equally delighted to have the Turner Prize exhibition here in Gateshead,' she said.

The Turner Prize winner, who gets a £25,000 cheque, will be announced at the venue on 5 December 2011. The exhibition runs until the first week in January 2012.

Visitors to the exhibit can see works by George Shaw, who paints landscapes of a council estate; Karla Black, who uses materials including cellophane, bath bombs and moisturising cream; sculptor Martin Boyce; and film and video artist Hilary Lloyd.